Pick Up Your Trash

“Sooner or later, we will have to recognize that the Earth has rights, too, to live without pollution. What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans.”--Evo Morales

I am not one for telling people what to do; I basically believe that as Americans we have a right to our own opinions, religion, politics, social issues, etc. Now, with that being said, I must stress one issue that seems to be a growing trend: pick up your trash.

I love the fact that parents involve their children in outdoor activities. In fact I encourage outdoor activities for children. I think that being outdoors away from technological devices fuels the imagination. I really do love seeing a family sitting along a creek bed or river bridge and enjoying some summertime fishing as well as exploring the wonderful natural world around them. But what I do not like is going back to the same area the next day and finding the place littered with trash. Pick up your trash. Seeing wrappers, empty cans, and containers just lying there just make me sad and angry all at the same time. I think we need to teach children the importance of recycling and just being environment friendly. Pick up your trash.

If you are teaching your children about outdoor activities such as fishing, teach them to respect nature as well. Pick up your trash. When packing your supplies for the day’s outing, throw a small kitchen bag in with the rest of the items. Use the kitchen bag to throw your papers, cans, wrappers, containers and everything else that was not at the site upon arrival. Remember to take the kitchen bag home with you; pick up your trash.

I am the first one to admit that I am not perfect when it comes to the whole reduce, reuse, recycle program. From my desk right now, I can see a pile of old magazines that need to be taking into the recycling center. But I would never leave trash along a creek bed, road side or other public access area. Pick up your trash.

I would like to see future generations enjoy the outdoors without all the pollutants left behind today. For now, I would just like to take my wildlife photos without litter in the background. Pick up your trash. Please.